Funeral service for James Estus Keys will be 11 a.m., Friday, December 18, 2020, at Zion Hill Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.

Mr. Keys, 81, of Wesson, MS, passed from this life December 16, 2020, at his home surrounded by loved ones. He was born May 13, 1939, to John Austin Keys and Anna Estelle Moore Keys.

Jimmy was a skilled craftsman; though he preferred to be called a carpenter, just like Jesus. He founded The Carpenter Shop in Wesson and continued to work there until right before his death. He loved to worship the Lord though music. In the early days, he enjoyed singing with cousins and family in a little group called the Zionlighters. He taught himself to play guitar and piano and still played until the last couple of months. He had fun collecting over/under shotguns and pearl handle knives. Occasionally, he could be found quail hunting and pheasant hunting with friends and a few good dogs. On warm days, you could catch a glimpse of him tooling around town on his Harley.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann Keys; parents, Austin and Estelle Keys; brothers, Howard Keys, Carl Ray Keys; sisters, Grace “Sis” Sandifer and Elsie Elkins.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his very special friend, Barbara Ann Ashley; daughters, Diane Keys and Sandy Keys Scott; sister, Melba Crane; four grandchildren, Mandy, Logan, Austin, and Peyton; and four great grandchildren, Spencer, Miles, Heloise, and Autumn.